Microbiome Resources

Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms—bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae—that live on, in and around people, plants, animals, soil, oceans and the atmosphere. These microbial communities play important roles in everything from human growth and development to food production and climate change.

A better understanding of microbiome development, composition and function—in people and beyond—will continue to inform strategies that harness the power of microbes to foster human and planetary health.

Browse All Microbiome Content

The Microbiome: An Origin Story

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Microbiome Data Prize Winner: Benjamin Callahan

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Microbiome Congressional Briefings

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Microbiomes are Everywhere

In the City How Urban Microbiomes Contribute to the Ecology of City Life

Urban landscapes are home to resident and transient microbial communities that populate everything from the soil and air, to wastewater and building interiors and exteriors.

In Wildlife Into the Wild: Animal Microbiomes in Conservation

A growing body of research suggests microbial consortia inhabiting everything from animals’ guts to their skin may be useful for informing and supporting conservation practices.

In the Soil Unearthing the Soil Microbiome, Climate Change, Carbon Storage Nexus

Soil is one of the most diverse microbial ecosystems in the world, and these microbes are critical to plant health and their resistance to stressors, such as drought, heavy metal pollution and even parasitism.

In the Ocean A Community Approach to Coral Conservation

In addition to photosynthetic zooxanthellae, corals form symbiotic relationships with bacteria, archaea and other microbes that aid the coral with nutrition and growth, as well as mitigation of pathogens, toxic compounds or stress.

Advocating For Microbiome Research

Advocacy Priorities

ASM strongly supports investments in microbiome research, as well as in the infrastructure—technology, data standardization, training and workforce—necessary to realize the full potential of those research investments and their application.

ASM advocates for the following:

Support for better coordination of and more funding for multidisciplinary microbiome research across the federal government.
Workforce development and training in the synthesis of microbiome data and information for practical application.
Facilitation of data standardization and sharing, including through continued funding of the National Microbiome Data Collaborative.
Continued support for a One Health approach to human health at all levels that reflects the intersections between people, animals, plants and the built environment.

Statements

ASM Encourages Swift Action on USICA/America COMPETES

ASM Urges Funding for the National Microbiome Data Collaborative

ASM Letter Regarding the Report of the Fast-track Action Committee on Mapping the Microbiome

The Human Microbiome

Article Microbiology of Endurance: The Microbiome’s Role in Fitness

The microbiome is central to a healthy metabolism, endocrine and immune system, but its role in fitness is murky and, at times, inconclusive.

Article Addressing Systematic Barriers in Human Microbiome Research

If the concept of microbial health is expanded to encompass structural barriers, such as access to environmental microbes and access to food, scientists can develop a more holistic view of health and well-being and more effective health interventions.

Article What Makes a Microbiome Healthy?

Scientists want to understand the microbiome within their own context of interest, leading to a menagerie of microbiome sub-fields focused on everything from inflammatory bowel disease to autism.

Report FAQ: Human Microbiome

This Academy FAQ report details the activities of the microbial species comprising the human microbiome, and recommends research to understand the connections between microbiome composition, host genetics and health.

Hear from Experts

Videos

Dr. Filipa Godoy-Vitorino discusses how to keep our microbiomes functioning properly in order to prevent diseases, such as cervical cancer.

Changes in body temperature via hypo- and hyperthermia have been shown to influence the gut microbiota in a variety of animals, with consistent effects on community diversity and stability.

Podcasts

Rachel Dutton discusses her work studying cheese microbiomes, one of the few microbial ecosystem types where almost all of the microorganisms are culturable.

Ami Bhatt discusses her research on the diversity within and between human gut microbiomes, and how this research is carefully being used to build new patient care recommendations.

Graciela Lorca studies genetic systems to find positive and negative microbial interactions that lead to disease and describes how specific bacterial strains may help prevent development of diabetes.

Educational Materials

Which Microbe Are You?

This K-12 activity, explores the human microbiome using a 'microbial personality' quiz that matches students with a particular microbe.

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Microbiome One-Pager

This factsheet designed for policymakers includes recommendations for investments in microbiome research.

Download Factsheet

2018-22 Interagency Strategic Plan

This 5-year strategic plan coordinates microbiome research activities across 21 U.S. government agencies.

Read the Plan